The Proton Tuah is a hint of the Pesona replacement PROTON might be doing a favour to the KL International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2010 by offering the global unveiling of its three concept cars. Proton today unveiled the three concept vehicles, together with another two show cars. The vehicles were all part of the Pahlawan series which is one of the highlights at Proton's booth. The Tuah is Proton's new sedan concept and strongly hints of what the Persona replacement model will look like.

Tuah's side profile with fluid lines

Sized similar to the Toyota Altis rather than the smaller Vios, the Tuah concept or Espire is built on a P321A platform. The clay model shows day time running lights while the side profiles offer sharp creases and strong lines around the wheels. No information on its powertrain but sources informed us that the engine will highly be the new Campro series.

Tuah too is going to be Proton's global weapon and judging from the looks, we are pretty sure this car can do the job provided the material and quality is there.

Proton has quite a grand display at the KLIMS 2010 motorshow – there’s a whole array of concept models there that are called the Pahlawan series. All of them look like they could make it into production, at least some derivative of them – it’s just a matter of time when!

All of the concept cars are named after Malaccan warriors – Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir, Hang Lekiu and Hang Kasturi. The most exciting for me is this Proton Tuah Concept which you can see above. It’s a four door sedan that could most likely be a preview of the upcoming Persona R replacement model. It’s still a clay model of course so don’t expect production-like finishing. The Tuah/new Persona replacement will be Proton’s new global C-segment offering.

It features a new family face, with daytime running lights integrated in the headlamps and in the fog lamp area. The side profile features large 18 inch 10 spoke wheels wrapped with 225/40R18 tyres, and a nice sloping roofline. On the rear end the left and right tail lamp cluster is joined as a single piece, kinda like a 2nd generation Subaru Legacy. Look after the jump for a full gallery of the Tuah!

PROTON LEKIR

The other model that got us in a frenzy is the Lekir.

Definitely a rebadged Lotus Europa, this project came about when the managing director, Datuk Syed Zainal Syed Mohamed Tahir, started discussing with the press about the possibility of using the defunct Lotus Europa platform for Proton.

The Proton Lekir Concept is essentially a Lotus Europa with a Proton badge. It asks a very interesting question – could a more affordable Proton-badged Lotus Europe sell?

Word is that the Lotus Europa was supposed to be a Proton in the first place, and it was known as the Proton Sepang project, but along the way it was decided that it would be sold as a Lotus instead, and of course with that came along Lotus prices. The Europa was short-lived and the position of a more comfortable Lotus has been filled by the Lotus Evora.

Seems like quite a shame to let the Europa go to waste – now imagine this, a Proton-badged Lotus Europa priced below RM150,000 and powered by the upcoming turbocharged Campro engine. A true rakyat’s sports car? Look after the jump for a full live gallery from KLIMS ’10.

PROTON LEKIU

Next up is the Lekiu, which is a concept crossover vehicle.

Also known as Xactive, we suspect this is one of the concept mini SUVs that Proton is designing for its Chinese client, Youngman. Using the Exora platform, we were informed that the benchmark vehicle for the project is the Nissan Qashqai. No information about the powertrain or driveline but we suspect this is a FWD only SUV.

This is the Proton Lekiu concept, part of the group of Proton Pahlawan Series concept cars on display at the KLIMS 2010. It’s an Exora-based SUV concept that uses the Exora’s platform, and the styling especially the front end also borrows heavily from the Exora with some offroader style design elements added.

This may or may not be sold as a Proton but we were informed sometime earlier this year at a briefing that Proton and Lotus Engineering were developing an SUV for Youngman Europestar so this could in fact be that project. If there’s a business case though, I don’t see why Proton won’t sell this. What do you think – should an SUV be part of Proton’s core model line-up? Look after the jump for a full gallery of the Lekiu Concept.

PROTON KASTURI

Kasturi in the mean time is based on the facelifted Saga launched in Thailand three days ago. Sporting a sharper looking front end and a new set of tail lights that incorporate cool looking LED lights, the Kasturi certainly looks sporty. We heard that the facelifted Saga will be launched here next year. Currently, Proton still has more than 2,000 units of stock of the current Saga but the factory is already churning out the facelifted model for export market.

The Proton Saga facelift which made its world debut in Thailand earlier his week makes an appearance at the KLIMS 2010 as the Proton Kasturi Concept, which is kitted up but not quite the same as the Proton Saga R3 Concept shown in Thailand.

While that one’s kitted up by R3, the bodykit on this Proton Kasturi Concept is by Proton Design, and the car is done up in a black on white theme. The rear end features clear LED tail lamps, but unlike the Saga facelift and the Saga R3 concept facelift, this one doesn’t show off its rear muffler.

The interior has also been blinged up with a white and black theme, and the meter cluster also gets a new design which you can find a zoomed in image with more detail in the live photo gallery after the jump.

PROTON JEBAT

Finally we have the Jebat. Jebat, the second most popular character after Tuah is well known for its aggressiveness. The Jebat show car carries the same theme as this Inspira/Lancer based car is kitted with a complete wide bodykit, big wheels and black on white colour scheme. Not really the best example of body kit (we have seen better ones out of Aceron Marketing brochure, a fibreglass manufacturer in Kajang), the Jebat hints of what we can expect to see once the Inspira is more popular on the road. The only two things missing from the Jebat show car will be the Mivec sticker and the small blue neon lights.

A favourite modification theme for Mitsubishi Lancer owners is to ape the legendary Evolution, and we’re sure that some Proton Inspira owners or prospects are looking at the same direction too. But before anyone has attempted that on their new car, Proton Design themselves have come up with an “Inspira Evo” to provide some inspiration. As part of the carmaker’s “Pahlawan” series of concepts at KLIMS, this is the Jebat!

The Jebat has a matt black coat covering large parts of its front and rear, with a matching strip at the lower section of the doors. Look closely and you’ll also notice that the front and rear fenders are puffed up, wide-body style. There are also daytime LEDs, bonnet vents (three in total) and a rear spoiler for the Evo look. The rear bumper has a diffuser that’s quite narrow, covering only the length of the number plate. The wheels are 18-inch items. Inside, Hang Jebat gets to sit on nice Recaros with red stitching, a theme repeated on the door panels. That and a Clarion touch screen ICE system are the only changes from the standard car. Live and studio images after the jump. What do you think?

Apart from the five pahlawan cars, Proton also launched the new R3 logo. This marks the rebranding of the R3 brand, a good move since R3 has a strong name in the enthusiast market. Next to the Mivec sticker, the R3 sticker can be said as the second popular sticker among Proton enthusiastic owners. Proton will be using the R3 brand for some versions of its model. This is similar to what Mercedes-Benz is doing with the AMG brand, or what Edaran Tan Chong Motors is doing with the Impul brand. Two motorsport cars will be on display to carry the R3 brand during the show. One is the Satria Neo S2000 rally car, the car that has managed to carry Proton's name back to the rally scene successfully and a concept Neo R3 car, with a turbocharged engine under that carbon-fibre hood.

Concept Neo R3 car

Proton's booth at KLIMS is the biggest and is located at the Tun Razak hall. There is also a Proton's design area where you can see their designers at work, a Lotus area where the Esprit prototype will be displayed along with the Lotus City Car Concept, the Evora S and the Exige Cup 260.

Proton is also having its green cars at the show. The Exora Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-Rev) and the Saga Electric Vehicle (EV) are there to pleased the techno savvy visitors.

Proton Saga Facelift R3 Concept teased at Thai Motor Expo

At the launch of the facelifted Proton Saga at the 2010 Thailand Motor Expo yesterday, Proton also showed off an R3 kitted variant on the stands. We have no information on this sporty Saga and presume that it’s a styling concept, although there’s nothing too outlandish here to rule out a production version. Show enough interest and perhaps Proton might listen!

It’s in black with a distinctive single yellow racing stripe aligned to the left side of the car. This is matched by side stripes with the words ‘R3 Concept’ and a chequered flag pattern. The bronze R3 six-spoke alloys are in matching colour with the lower half of the aggressive front bumper (with side vents and big air intakes that just long an intercooler!) and the diffuser style rear bumper. There’s a rear spoiler and the exhaust also has a burnt tip look. I got ushered off the stage before managing to take pics of the cabin (the car was locked anyway), but there are Recaro buckets and a small diameter sports steering wheel. Enjoy the shiny gallery after the jump!

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